jaguar s-type r model

My dad got his S type R new in 2005. Loves the car has had no problems that I know of except for small alignment issues. My folks live in the north burbs of Chicago and experience plenty of snow. The Jag is his everyday car 12 months of the year. He got talked into the nav option that he hasn't used once, pretty worthless. His is Quartz/Dove and I highly recommend that combo. Before this car he had a A6 4.2 that he got sick of in 3 years, not due to issues, just lack of character. He plans to keep the Jag for a long time to come!

 

I love the S-type R looks like the total package for not much $$$ used.....the prices on the xjr are very close and its a really nice car for a family! The only thing I woud recomend you look into is the valves and throttle bodies....I read somewhere once that similar year XKR's (same motor) needed to have the valves adjusted or replaced and a new throttle body installed every 15-20k miles I could be wrong but this is what my memory is telling me!

 

I own a '03 model and love it. Pretty much the worst car I've ever driven in snow though. With all the torque its got, and the traction control coming on, it's tap-tap-tap on the throttle in the snow. Could be the Avon tires I have on it not helping too.
Otherwise it's by far the best bang for your buck in sporty type 4 door cars. A friend has an 07 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT, that has driven my car and swears its faster than the Mas. Motor Trend named the STR one of the top 10 burnout kings a few years back. The torque is unbelievable. If I remember right, it has 80% of it's torque available all the way down at 1800 rpm.
I bought it for a daily driver/family car and driving to work and around town (I drive hard too) it still averages 19mpg! Drove it on one highway trip and recorded 27mpg. I have noticed that the factory brake pads suck, I'm upgrading to EBC pads in a few weeks. The other thing I don't like is no limited slip diff.
Also going to change the blower pulley, exhaust and ECU tune when the weather breaks.
It's no Italian sports car, but very, very nice for the money.

 

We have a 05 S type R and we have had problems the check engine light has came on and the dual AC/heater is not working right one side is always hot air coming out of it. Really dont like the way it drives and the latch to the gas lid broke and we only have 45000 miles on it. We had a X type and had no problems until the son wrecked it and so we bought this one because we thought it would be even better

 

If you do buy an STR, remember that it's a low production car, I think I read on jaguarforums like about 1300 total for all years. Like 300 cars in 03-04 and another 1000 cars made through 05-08 or whenever production stopped. I'm not sure if that will account for anything in the future but who knows??

 

Try to find a 4.2L version, the revised V8 got rid of a few potential problem areas in the older 4.0L. Things like two row timing chains etc. I don't recall which year it was first introduced, probably 2005. I would do some research on the differences in the 4.2 and the 4.0 if you get serious about it.

 

I think 2002 was the first year for the 4.2 engine, but the "R" wasn't made until 2003.

 

Go with the R Peter!

 

What didn't you like about it? Just curious..

 

I have never driven an S type, in fact my only real experience with Jag is the X type I owned for 3.5 years. One thing I have noticed is the leather in Jags tends to wear much quicker than other cars. Even when my car was 2 years old, there were already cracks forming on the drivers seat. I have noticed the same problem with other models as well.

Again it is a different model, but in the 3.5 years and 80K with my X type, I never had an issue with anything electronic, except one of the key fobs.

I believe that the chasis, drivetrain and basic suspension setup were shared with the Lincoln LS, but that was it. I am not 100% on this, and there may be even further differences with teh R model.

You may want to try some of the Jag forums to get other owner's opinions of your concerns. jaguarforum.co.uk is one, however I am sure there are other forums out there.

Bottom line is, if you prefer the M5, get that, though I think either would be a great car to drive on a daily basis.